Tata Sikorsky, the joint venture firm of Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation of the U.S., on Thursday, announced the production of India’s first 100 per cent indigenous S-92 helicopter cabin at its Hyderabad facility.
After three years of challenging effort, the joint venture could deliver 50 cabins at the facility, according to Tata Sikorsky Chairman S. Ramadorai.
“We made history by delivering 100 per cent indigenous helicopter cabin for S-92 here,” he said.
Sikorsky and TASL had entered into a joint venture to produce S-92 cabins in 2009.
So far, the company produced cabins making use of the imported parts. Now the facility makes all the 5,000 parts needed for the cabin out of the Hyderabad facility.
Global demand for S-92 helicopters is on the rise, and cabins for the same will be sourced from Hyderabad, according to Shane Eddy, Senior Vice-President, Operations, Sikorsky. Speaking on the cost advantage in the Indian facility, Mr. Eddy said, “We can [have] enormous cost advantage in terms of labour, infrastructure and the process if we produce in the facility in Hyderabad.”
However, he added that the company had to pass through several challenges in the past four years which were related to erecting infrastructure, validation process, streamlining quality systems and validation.
On an average, the company makes four cabins a month, and exports 40 cabins in a year.
